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Thursday, October 11, 2007
  • Elivis

    Bringing the "King" to the Concert Hall

    Elvis isn't dead - at least when it comes to several present-day jazz and classical musicians. Cyrus Chestnut has released an album, "Cyrus Plays Elvis," featured nearly a dozen classic songs by the King; the Memphis Symphony and composers like Michael Daugherty have also paid homage in symphonic scores. We find out what's behind this trend. Also: Grammy-nominated singer and multi-instrumentalist Meshell Ndegeocello is known for her throaty grooves mixed with soul, rap, and jazz. She performs live from her latest album, "The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams."

Reinventing Elvis

Even before this, the thirtieth anniversary year of Elvis Presley's death, his music has been getting serious consideration from unlikely musicians. The jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut has just released an album titled "Cyrus plays Elvis" that features interpretations of a dozen of the King’s best-known hits. He joins us along with Ryan Fleur, the CEO of the Memphis Symphony.

Cyrus plays Elvis at Amazon.com
Memphis Symphony Orchestra Web site

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell Ndegeocello has been called everything from "avant garde" to "a dying breed." The iconoclast's new album, "The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams," features her smoky vocals on a set of songs that ranges from funky soul to jazz-oriented pop-folk. She joins us to play live in the studio.

Meshell Ndegeocello's Web site

The Swell Season in The Greene Space

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Joshua Bell in The Greene Space

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